Variety (Feb 1906)

VARIETY By Sime HURTIG & SEAMON'S. Titer* is nothing attractive on the Ilur- tig and Seamon hill tlii.s wwk. Klita Proctor Otis and Boyle and McCarthy in new sketches are reviewed under New Arts. The hill lagged, and about the most no- ticeable of the remainder is Lew Haw kin- wit h two new songs, a verse on "Yankee l>oodle Dandy," mentioning Miss Alice Roosevelt (which made a big hit ) and .some new talk. Hawking is trying for new- lines, and partly succeeds. So much so that he should cut out the old jokes and keep on trying. The race horse dream of "•hats" and "Ilatteras" got a big laug!.. (I*»c Harrison please write.) Of the songs, a new one by Charles R. Law lor called "Since Father went to Work," struck the audience as very humorous, and the melody is catchy. Keno and Kit-hard* were l>ookcd for a new act, but failed to deliver. The four Alvinos on the rings did some strong arm aiul acrobatic work, making a pleasing closing number, while Miss Wynne Wins- low "In the latest song success of the day," tailed to convince anyone present that she knew what that was, for Miss Winslow did not sing it. Of the four selections, one was classic:! 1. one a "lead-pipe" for ap- plause, and the other two just songs. With a rather pleasant voice and a clear enunci- ation. Miss Wynne Winslow should rinjj a hurry call for some popular music. Stanley and Wilson (Sarah L. Cogs- well) have a musical sketch in which Miss Cogswell sings the first song, and the fault of her failure to gain applause through it lies with the ■election. She has a mistaken idea that it is necessary to "act" while singing. Her gestures are not commendable, neither do they assist her. Could she contrive to allow her hands to rest easily and quietly, the rendition would have more effect. A habit of blinking or winking the eyes continually gives an air of affectation. Miss Cogswell needs to study herself before songs. An encore was re- eeived through a duet from "The Poet and Peasant." Some people Appear to like Mr. Stanley as a German comedian, while others are indifferent. He has played the character in the same way for a long time, long enough to change it. Almont and Dumont are the equal if not the superior of any musical act who piny the brasses exclusively. A short concertina solo is the only diverging moment when the wind instruments are not in play. Miss Ibuuont is a most excellent performer on (he saxophone, while Mr. Almont's cornet playing is his strong card. The pair have' the technical knowledge requisite to real 1 musicians, and temper the volume accord- ing to the size of the auditorium. The closing number, although liberally ap- plauded, should Ih» dropped. Music is not comedy, which is hard to replace, Pdack and Jones, two colored men, need a better opening song, and a few- new jokes instead of those borrowed of the minstrel men they have heard of or the books they have read. Also the lighter fellow should know how to dress. If not. it is a waste of money to s]>end on even- ing clothes. Dancing hard at the end did Mot earn a recall, for the act is badly put together. THE DEWEY. Whoever wrote the burlesques for "The Blue Itibboii Oirls" playing at the Dewey this week, forgot entirely about the girls in the show, or perhaps it was the original intention not to have any. It is James Hyde's aggregation of males ami females. There are five favored persons in it, and they appear at any and all times, while the chorus, which would help to dispel the thickness of the gloom the show produces, is kept out of sight for thirty minutes straightaway in the owning piece, and longer in the finale. The first burlesque is called "('aught With the (ioods," and is very suggestive. for there is not an original line or piece of business in it. Two husbands are trying to secrete a female visitor from their wives, and the fun is expected to lie produced from hauling and mauling a girl around the room to prevent her discovery by the better halves. It is all very tiresome. About the worst singing quartette ever heard is carried, and they sing all through the show. It's sad. Some of the musical numbers were cut out, but no complaint is made, for those given received little ap pin use. The olio is the best part of the i>erforin- ance, and to fully realise what that means you will have to s€c the olio. The Austins. tambourine spinners, opened it, but gave nothing new. Cunningham and Coveney in a knockabout turn did well with their comedy and dancing, the one in black face being a first rate dancer. The Sidonias, "Creators of 'Hearty' I a\ lighter," as the program has it, were picked out for the "sleeping act," so were not seen, while the World's Trio have some changes in costumes, which are the only changes in the set. "Laundry Girl*' Vacation at the St. Louis Fair" concluded, a drop representing the electrical fountain folding up the third scene, during which a female band ap- peared, and the chorus in a change of cos- tume came on for a second as the curtain descended. Scene number two was a moving pic- ture "chase" affair and called "How a Frenchman Fooled the Blue Ribbon <Jirls." It Is an elegant piece of work, and on a par With the rest of the proceedings. Mr. Hyde may imagine that his show is being produced for the edification of the burlesque public, but in the opinion of di* interested observers it is serving only as n sort of light entertainment for the favored "five" of the program, not forgetting the quartette. After hearing them you will never 1m 4 able to dismiss the noise from your memory. One song made n hit, and it was encored several times. It was the first Opportunity during the evening for the audience to exer- cise, and they did it in sheer desperation. A speculator in the lobby of the Dewey had some tickets to sell. Fvidently they were returned to the box office, for any number of orchestra chairs remained un- occupied. Minnie Kaufman was offered a very large salary to do team riding on bi- cycles with Ralph Johnstone at the Hippo- drome. Chinko, Miss Kaufman's husband, thought best to refuse the offer. TWENTY-THIRD STREET. Proctor is "giving a show'' at the Twen- ty-third street bouse this week and the attaches are once again holding their heads up after two weeks of "chances." The bill is headed by Cus Kd wards "Schoolboys and Schoolgirls." who. to- gether with Powell and Cottrell and Omar Singh, are reviewed under New Acts. Julius Tannen is back with more im- personations, being so recent as to repro- duce EL A. Roberts' announcement. Also a short one of Lew Fields and a broken one of Dave Wartield, in "The Music Mas- ter," are attempted. Particularly is War- field "attempted." That character actor eoilld never have established his present reputation had his work not been better than Mr. Tannen's imitation. Julius starts off with a long drawn out story, sugges- tive until the ending, which is t<»o child- ish for the time wasted, ami sounds verv much home made. The Mansfield curtain speech is no longer given, but there are others sufficient to amuse the audience, which seemed to like Tannen very much. Minns and Binns played before a very cold house. The only warmth extracted was from the music, which should lead the team to have a full stock on hand when needed, every audience not going into rap- tures over an unhealthy seltzer ls»ttle and other relics of the long ago. The Jackson Family on bicycles, follow- ing the intermission, did their work riding in the customarv finished manner, and Maggie (line, "The Evergreen," brought down the house by walking down to the orchestra and kissing the drummer. Mag- iiie received a "bu-kev." and magnani* inously banded one of the flowers to Hugo Marks, the orchestra leader, who l>eing nonplussed for the moment, sat ii|>on it to have it out of the way. Edward Hlondell and Company in "The Lost Boy" caused considerable laughter with JHondell's portrayal of how foolish a Im>\ or man can sometimes make himself. lona (Catherine, as the stuttering waiting maid, was the l>cst in the sketch, which amounts to little nnue than a "conversa- tion" for Hlondell with his assistants as "•feeders." Oenaro and Haifi'v plaved in "one," >o did without the sketch. K'av Bailey never looked better than she did on Monday af- ternoon. and a woman in a stage lw>x re- marked upon her resemblance to the Lil- lian Russell of some years ago. Miss Bail- ey should, if possible, contrive to retain her present figure. A better one could not be made to order. There is so much to say to FJeanor Falk, who almost "fell down" that she will Im» found under "Talks to Artists." and Asra, the billiard ball juggler, opened the bill which was no discredit in a show of this character. Mr. Asia did not jug gle with any amount of snreness, several *lips happening, one trick being aban- doned, There has been a release of one of the t\\<» pi-tols formerly discharged by l lie balls striking them. Charles Robinson, the comedian, now with "The Colonial Relies." writes to say that he was the first to change character costumes in view of the audience, having changed from a tramp to an Hebrew. WILD WEST FOR VAUDEVILLE. An act entirely new to the vaudeville stage is headed for New York from Den- ver. It left the city of jights this week ami is due to open in the big town in the near future. Briefly stated the new act was put to- gether by A. (i. Birch, a one time Denver newspaper man. His purpose is to give a wild west bucking broncho exhibition on whatever stage space he may find in his route, lie has secured a number of the real things in the way of cay uses that do the breakneck buck. These will be ridden by some of the best riders in the west, includ- ing Miss Bertha Kaepernick, probably the most expert horsewoman in the country. Mr Birch has invented and patented a rubber shoe which prevents the animals from slipping on l>oard BOOTS, The act will have a Colorado mountain background. Chas. Fay has written special music for the novel production. Idist Sunday II. II. Huckwalter took n series of moving pictures of" the act at the place of its rehearsal near Manhattan Beach, Denver. These pictures will be sent over the circuit Mr. Birch will play and in advance of the act itself. The pic- tures are an interesting lot and it is thought will serve as a good advertisement for the big show. Jam** H. Xnland. ENLARGED OHIO CIRCUIT. Hamilton, Ohio. —A special meeting of the managers of the Central Vaudeville Association of Ohio, Indiana and West Virginia was hold In this city to-day to consider a proposition to enlarge the cir- cuit. The officers of the association were John Amnions, of Marion, Ohio, President; John McCarthy, of Hamilton, Ohio, Vice- President; O. (». Murray, Cincinnati, Ohio, Secretary. \V. G. Rogers, Wheeling, W. Va.: & It. Andrews, Muncie, Ind., and Waller Reefs, of Chicago, executive com- mittee. It is probable that many new houses will be admitted to the,circuit.. The various managers appear to be greatly en- couraged as to the outlook for future husiness. SAM WATSON GOT HIS RIGHTS. "Farmyard" Sam Watson entered into a contract with the Keith people to play the circuit at a certain figure, provided that his route waa laid out in manner re- quested by him, to allow of short jumps. The "provided" in the contract stood out prominently, but the Keith office never thought to look it up, and Mr. Watson found that instead of weekly trips being a distance of HM) miles or so apart, he would travel live or six hundred miles between Saturday ami Mondav. So he kicked hard and emphatic. Mr. Watson will now play where the Keith Hooking Agency may please, but proper compen sat ion has been added to the original con tract. The remains of Maud Courtney's mother were interred ;it Kensal Green, l>»ndon. on January IS. Mi*** Courtney, who had just opened in Johannesburg the day pre viou- to her mother's death, is expected l«t return to London the coming week. * *